As part of his campaign promises to empower local farmers to grow more of Liberia’s staple food, rice, Nimba County’s district #1 Representative, Samuel Nyakemah Brown, Sr., last week donated several farming tools, bags of rice and cash to a local farming group, Rural Sustainable Agriculture Development Initiative Inc.
The Rural Sustainable Agriculture Development Initiative Inc. is a local farming group involved in the cultivation of rice, raising of pigs, chicken and cattle in the rural part of district #1.The lawmaker said he was impressed with the level of work done on the 20 acres of swamp land. “I appreciate what you are doing here. As a farmer myself, I must commend you for going back to the soil,” Representative Brown stated.
Representative Brown assured the farmers of his support for the initiative, which is aimed at growing more food. “We will make sure we give you the support in our means, as well as talk to some of our friends in and outside of Liberia to support the initiative,” he assured.
The items presented to the farmers include 24 shovels, 15 pairs of rain boots, 30 pieces of hooks, 15 bags of Rice and 1 cartoon of cutlasses. Additionally, a cash of L$50,000 was given to the management of the farm to upkeep its operation.
The presentation was done Representative Brown’s Chief of Office Staff, Wuotema Abraham Suah, a few days after the lawmaker’s visitation to the farm. The COS, Suah, encouraged the farmers to use the tools for the purpose intended so that their production can increase proportionally.
Receiving the items, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Sustainable Agriculture Development Initiative Inc., Amos Wakala Konah, expressed gratitude to Representative Brown for the gesture. “I am just surprised and don’t know what to say, because in Liberia it is hard to see a leader bringing himself down to earth to assist people who are striving and trying to pick up, especially in the line of empowerment,” Konah explained.
He praised the lawmaker, and implored more blessings upon him for greater things, adding that they have engaged different institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, for assistance, but to no avail.
Director Konah assured Representative Brown that the materials donated will not be diverted to any other use, but will be used for the reasons given.
Rural Sustainable Agriculture Development Initiative Inc. is located in Konahvillie, Ganta, district #1, Nimba County.